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04/04/06Get off your ass and do some good.Just wanted to share a great experience I had today. I started volunteering with a group who helps monitor foster families. I went to visit a child and his family. The child has gone from a troubled past to making honor roll twice this year. He told me "I love my life." I won't say anymore, except it's wonderful to hear something like that and actually see a system that we hear so much bad about working. Sure millions might get "wasted" a year, but that money has really helped this child out. Anyway, I know there are still a lot of horror stories out there and this is probably the "exception", but that's why I'm volunteering to make this the norm. If you have the time you should really consider working with some kind of community group. I'm holding 2 jobs and attend law school fulltime and I've made time to help out. The only real difference I find from most people is I don't watch TV. If you are saying to yourself "I don't have time," make sure it isn't because you're watching "American Idol." I hope anyone reading this would have a hard time justifying that "American Idol" is more important than making sure that children in the foster system have their needs met and are in a safe home. It only takes a few hours a month, think about it. Cheers, 03/17/06Kidnapping Attempt in BangladeshLooks like there's some news coverage of what happened in Bangladesh: Info on the Evacuation / Kidnapping: Not much, but it's what I could find so far. Cheers, Peace Corps shuts Down Bangladesh Operations (AKA. Screw the Peace Corps)It's been awhile since my last post, it's been a busy couple of weeks. Anyway, to the point. The Peace Corps has closed down its Bangladesh Operations after the JMB attempted to kidnap one of the volunteers. While I'm glad to see the Peace Corps finally taking responsibility for its volunteers safety, they've still let their volunteers down. Many of the volunteers gave up homes, apartments, jobs, etc. to take a position with the Peace Corp and now have no money and no place to live, because the Peace Corp failed to provide these volunteers with a site that they could serve their 27 month commitments. Due to Peace Corp policies all of the volunteers now receive NOTHING. They do not get their $6,000.00 adjustment fees (read what MANY of the volunteers were counting on to get housing when they got home). They do not get scholarships to grad school. They get NOTHING. Correction, they can sign up for another 27 month commitment (note: the 7+ months / 18+ months for others won't count at ALL towards the next 27 months). Hell, the Peace Corps puts it in their records that they've "quit." That's just disgraceful. These people have given up their lives in America to represent our country. They were faced with bombing attempts, kidnappings, suicide bombers, poor medical treatment (sound like a soldier to you? except without training to defend themselves, no guns, and working for peace) , and what do they get? They get shafted by the government that they honorable served and represented in Bangladesh. I have been to Bangladesh and I can tell you first hand that the citizens of Bangladesh know that the Peace Corp's volunteers were representing America and that they were all well respected. In conclusion, these give up their lives in America, risk their lives in an increasingly hostile environment, and when they get home some have no homes, and none were given what they were promised due to the Peace Corps' negligence. So to hell with the Peace Corps unless they fix the mess they've created. Until then I suggest everyone tells anyone thinking of joining the Peace Corps to find another organization to work with. Personally, I think everyone should protest the Peace Corps publicly (anyone for a trip to D.C.?) and call their Senators / Congress people and let them know of this terrible atrocity against, literally, some of the bravest and nicest American's I've ever met. Cheers, [Legal aside since I'm in law school] Duty: Duty to [provide volunteers a cite they could finish their 27 months and a Duty to disclose possible problems with the country BEFORE they accept their commissions Breach: They sure as hell didn't do EITHER of those Causation: Yup, not doing those caused the problems Damages: Let's see... No homes, No money, No health care, Nothing to put on a resume, 7+ months down the drain, and I'm sure there's a lot more.
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